Machine for folding comb honey sections and applying foundation starters thereto



Dec. 22, 1931. w. D. RIDGWAY 1,837,371

MACHINE FOR FOLDING COMB. HONEY SECTIONS AND APPLYING FOUNDATION STARTERS THERETO Filed June 11 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l I P153600, gwwmtoz wZa? m Dec. 22, 1931. w, RlDGWAY 1,837,371

MACHINE FOR FOLDING COMB HONEY SECTIONS AND APPLYING FOUNDATION STARTERS THERETO Filed June 11, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuemtoc Dec. 22, l 931.

W.D. RIDGWAY' MACHINE FOR FOLDING COMB HONEY SECTIONS AND APPLYING FOUNDATION STARTERS THERETO Filed June 11, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jug 5.

mm m ywyfm Jig 310.

Dec. 22, 1931. w. D. RIDGWAY 1,337,371

MACHINE FOR FOLDING COMB HONEY SECTIONS AND APPLYING FOUNDATION STARTERS THERETO Filed June 11, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 22, 1931. r w RlDGWAY 1,837,371

v MACHINE FOR FOLDING COMB HONEY SECTIONS AND APPLYING FOUNDATION STARTERS THERETO Filed June 11, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 22, 1931 WILLIAM '1); RIDGWAY,

NT OFFICE I or UNITY, orrro 'MAGHINE non FOLDING coMn HONEY snow-Ions ANDAPPLYING ronivnn'rronsrnnmnns rnnnnmo p Application filed June 11,

This invention relates, to a machine for manufacturing comb honey sections of that type provided with top and bottom starters of foundation combs.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide amachine of the character stated which shall be adapted to foldv combhoney sections from blanks having dove-tail ends.

The invention has for a further object to 9 provide a machine of the character stated which shall be adapted to interlock or unite the ends of the folded blanks and thus com plete the comb honey sections.

The invention has for a further object to provide amachine of. the character stated which shall beadapted tozapplystarters of foundation combs tothe blanks in a manner to insure the starters occupying'their proper positions in the completed comb honey sections. 7 V r The invention has for a further object to provide a machine of the character stated which shall be adapted to form the starters from blanks in rolled form and thereafter deliver and apply the starters to the comb honey section blanks. 1

The invention has for a still further object to provide a machine of the character stated which may beoperated manually or mechanically, which shall be adapted to deliver a comparatively large number of completed comb sections in a comparatively short'time, and which shall be simple, durable and capable of being manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the nature which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front machine, 7 V

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the machine. I l

Figure 3 is a sectional view onan enlarged scale taken on the plane indicated by the line 3--3 ofFigure 2. i r

Figure 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged elevation of the 1928. Serial No. 284,644. 1

scale taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line H of-Figure l,

'Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the vertical planes indicated by the line 55 of Figural}, .1 6

Figure 6 is a seetionalview on an enlar ed scale taken on the vertical planes indicated by the line 66 of Figure 1, a

Figure .7 is a'sectional view takenon the plane indicated-by the line 77 of Figure 6, w v Figure; 8 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line 8-8 of Figure l, r r 1 it 7 a Figure 9 is a plan view'on an enlarged scale 01"" one of the members adapted to' carry and 5; apply the starters to the section blanks,

Figure 10 Visa plan view of one of the sectionblanks, and a 1 i Figure 11 is an elevational view of one of the sections partly completed. 7 l 7 The machine comprises a frame which consists o fbase pieces 1, upright rear sidebars 2, upwardly and rearwardly inclined front side bars 3 and lower and upper cross bars 4: and 5, respectively. l v

, The magazine which comprises two receptacles 6 arranged in vertical position and in relatively spacedrelation at the front side of the frame, is provided for the reception of the blanks 7 from which the honey comb secso tions are formed. The receptacles 6 are supported fromthe frame bars 3 by brackets 8 to which they aresecured, as at 9. The upper ends and inner sides of the receptacles 6 are 7 open, and the receptacles are provided in the lower ends of their rear sides with discharge slotslO. 1, a Y? The blanks are withdrawn one at a time from the receptacles '6 and moved through a shaping or forming .means, by an annular series of carriers 11 which are supported for rotation beneath the blanks Land in a vertical plane located between the receptacles 6. The carriers 11 comprise plates 12 which are secured, as 13, to the outer side of the fellyof W a wheel ll. The plates 12 extend transverse ly of the wheel 14, and'a-re provided at their rear edges with flanges 15, The wheel 14 travels in the direction indicated by the arrow of Flgure 2, and during its rotation the car- 0 riers 11 withdraw blanks from the receptacles 6. The blanks 7 are withdrawn through the discharge slots 10 of the receptacles 6 by the flanges 15, and the blanks are held in the carriers by the flanges and by dogs 16, the flanges contacting with the rear edges and the dogs with the front edges of the blanks in the carriers. The dogs 16 are pivotally secured between their ends, as at 17, to the inner side of the folly of the wheel14, and they are retractibly held in active position by springs 18. The outer ends of the dogs 16 are, when the dogs are in active position, positioned at the front edges of the plates 12. The dogs 16 are in active position from the time the carriers receive the blanks until the articles are completed, and they are then moved into inactive position to permit the removal of the completed articles. The dogs 16 are retracted or moved into their inactive position against the tension of the springs 18 by a trip 19 which is of sector formation and supported from the frame in position to arrange its arcuate edge in the path of the inner ends of the dogs 16.

The wheel 14 is fixed to a shaft 20 which is journaled in bearings 21 carried by the frame bars 3. The felly 22 and the hub 23 of the wheel 14 are axially offset, and these parts are connected together by spokes 24 of the form shown in Figure 1. The trip 19 is supported concentrically with respect to the wheel 14 by a bracket 25 fixed, as at 25a, to the cross bar 4.

The means by which the blanks are bent or shaped to provide the comb honey-sections comprise rods 26 and 27 and a rod 28. The rods 26 and 27 are of substantially semi-cir cular formation, and are arranged at opposite sides of the series of carriers 11 and eccentrically to the axis of rotation thereof. The rods 26 and 27 extend from points at and near the top of the path of movement of the carriers to points forwardly of and below the bottom of said path. They are fixed at their upper ends, as at 29, to a bar 30 which is in turn fixed, as at 31, to the lower ends of the front sides of the receptacles 6. The upper portions 26a and 27a of the rods 26 and 27 converge downwardly and rearwardly, and the lower portions 266 and 27b of the rods are substantially parallel. The rod 28 has an upper portion 28a which is substantially horizontal, and is fixed to one of the rear side bars 2. The rod 28 has a lower curved portion 286 which is arranged eccentrically to and in a plane centrally between the rod portions 26b and 27b, and is fixed at its lower end, as at 32, to the cross bar 4. The rod 28 also has an intermediate portion 280 which curves downwardly and rearwardly from a point near the lower end of the rod portion 26a to a point rearwardly of and centrally between the rod portions 265 and 27b.

The relative arrangement of the rod portions 26a and 27a and their arrangement with respect to the path of travel of the series of carriers 11, are such that each blank will, during the first phase of its movement, after being withdrawn from the receptacles 6, contact with such portions and be moved downwardly and forwardly with respect to and between the same, with the result that the blank will be bent into the form shown at the rear of Figure 2 and in Figure 11. In these figures, "(a designates the bottom, 76 and To the sides and 7d the top of the partly formed sections. The bottom 7a is secured in its carrier 11, the sides 76 and 7c are positioned between and in contact with the rod portions 26a and 27a, and the top 7d extends rearwardly beyond said rod portions. During the next phase of the movement of the partly formed blanks, the top 7d thereof will contact with the rod portion 280 and the upper part of the rod portion 28b and be moved downwardly and forwardly with respect thereto, with the result that the top will be bent or moved in a direction to carry its free end toward the free end of the side 71). During the next phase of the movement of the partly formed section, the sides Tb and To move between and in contact with the rod portions 26?) and 27?) and the top 7d moves in contact with the upper side of the rod portion 28b and is moved further in the direction of the free end of the side 76. During the next phase of the movement of the partly formed section, it will be moved between the rollers 33 and 34 which are rotatably supported by brackets 35 and 36, respectively, carried by the frame bar 4.

The roller contacts with the side 70, and the roller which is grooved, receives the dove-tail ends of the side 75 and top 7d and brings about an interlocking engagement of said ends.

To prevent any distortion of the partly formed section, and to hold its sides 7?) and against lateral separation, while it is being moved between the rollers and 34, arms 3'? and 38 are carried by the wheel 14 for engagement with the rear side of the section immediately before it starts to pass between the rollers 33 and 34. The arms 37 and 38 are arranged at opposite sides of the wheel 14 and are fixed to levers 39 and 39a which are in turn fixed to a shaft 40 journaled at the inner side of the periphery in the wheel. Immediately after the partly formed section enters between the rollers 33 and 34, one of the levers 35) comes in contact with a roller 41 journaled on the bracket 25, with the result that the arms 37 and 38 are moved into contact with the rear side of the partly formed section. The arm 37 is provided at its free end with a member 37a which contacts with the side Tb and holds it against outward displacement. After the section passes from between the rollers 33 tricity or in any other suitable manner. Those edges of the severed portions of the blanks 4-.5 and 416 that contact with this plate and are positioned in contact with the blanks 7, are melted suiiiciently to cause them to adhere to the blanks '7, and as soon as said portions are secured to the blanks 7 the jaws 76 are opened by the contact of the wipers 79 with the trips 80.

A 83 is lined to the shaft 20, and a near 53. 1S lliietl to the shaft (33. the former \J being twice the diameter of the latter. Gears S and 86 of the same diameter and meshing with on :o other and with "the gears 83 and 84, are mounted upon stub shatts 87 and 88 which are journaled pon one of the frame bars 3 between the shafts -63. A handle 89 for operating the machine is fixed to the top shaft 88. If desired, the handle 89 may be omitted and any suitable motor which may be connected to the shaft 88 for the purpose of operating the machine.

-l Vliile l be e described the principle of the operation inve on, together with th struc ure that I now consider to be the best on 'limcnt thereof, I desire to have it un derstood that tn ,tructnre shown is merely illustrative such changes may be made as do are within the scope of the invention and claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A machine for forming articles from blanks having ends adapted to be interlocked, comprising a magazine for the blanks, means for bending the blanks, means for withdrawing the blanks lrom the magazine and subjecting them to the action of the bending means, and means for interlocking the ends of the bent blanks.

2. A machine for forming articles from blanks having ends adapted to be interlocked, comprising a magazine or the blanks, means for bending the blanks, an annular series of carriers adapted to withdraw the blanks from the magazine and subject them to the action of the bending means, means for operating the carriers, and means for interlocking the ends of the bent blanks.

3. A machine for forming articles from blanks h ving ends adapted to be interlocked, comprising a magazine for the blanks, an annular series of carriers adapted to withdraw the blanks from the magazine during one phase of their movement, blank bending means adapted to engage the blanks during another phase of their movement, means for interlocking the ends of the shaped blanks during another phase of their movement, and means for rotating the carriers.

4. A machine for forming articles from blanks having ends adapted to be interlocked, comprising a magazine for the blanks, an annular series of carrier, means for rotating the carriers, arcuate blank bending members extending from the top to the bottom of the path of movement of the carriers, the members being arranged eccentrically to the axis of rotation of the carriers and having downwardly converging upper portions and parallel lower portions, another ilank bending member having an arcuate lower portion arranged eccentrically to the lower portions of s first members, said other member having an upper portion inclining downwardly and inwar lly from the lower end of the upper portion of one of said first members, and means arranged at the lower ends of said members for interlocking the ends of the blank.

5. A machine for forming articles from blanks having ends adapted to be interlocked, comprising a magazine for the blanks, means for acnding the blanks, means for interlock i s; the ends of the shaped blanks, an annular series of carriers adapted to withdraw the blan s from the magazine and carry them through the bendir and interlocking means, sprin pressed dogs adapted to retain the blanks .n the carriers during the passage of the blanks thr ugh the bending and interlocking means, and means adapted to retract the dogs alter the passage of the completed article through the interlocking means and hold the dogs retracted until the carriers enother blanks.

6. A machine for forming articles from blanks having ends adapted to be interlocked, comprising a magazine for the blanT-Is, means for bending the blanks. means for interlocking the ends of the shaped blanks, an annular series of carriers adapted to withdraw the blanks from the magazine and carry them through the bending and interlocking means, spring pressed dogs adapted to retain the blanks in the carriers during the passage of the blanks through the bending and interlocking means, and means adapted to retract the dogs alter the passage 01 the completed article through the interlocking means and hold. the dogs retracted until the carriers engage other blanks, and means operable for movement into contact with the bent blanks for holding; them against distortion during their passage through the interlocking means.

7. A machine for forming articles from blank, having ends adapted to be interlocked, comprising a magazine for the blanks, means for bending the blanks, means "for interlocking the ends of the bent blanks, an annular series of carriers adapted to withdraw the blanks from the magazine and carry them through the bending and interlocking means, means operable to engage the bent blanks immediately before their passage through the interlocking means, and means for moving said last means into engagement with the bent blanks and for releasing the same after the passage of the blanks through the interlocking means.

8. A machine for forming articles from blanks having ends adapted to be interlocked, comprising a magazine for the blanks, means for bending the blanks, means for interlocking the ends of the bent blanks, carriers adapted to withdraw the blanks from the magazine and carry them through the bending and interlockin means, and means for holding the blanks in the carriers during their passage through the bending and interlocking means and adapted to release the blanks after their passage through the interlocking means.

9. A machine for forming comb honey sections from blanks having endsadapted to be interlocked, comprising a magazine for the blanks, means for bending the blanks, means for interlocking the ends of the bent blanks, means adapted to withdraw the blanks from the magazine and carry them through the bending and interlocking means, and means for applying top and bottom starters of foundation combs to the blanks during their withdrawal from the magazine and prior to their engagement with the bending means.

'10. A machine for formingarticles from blanks having ends adapted to be interlocked, comprising a magazine for the blanks, means for bending the blanks, means for interlocking the ends of the bent blanks, carriers adapted to withdraw the blanks from the magazine and carry them through the bend in g and interlocking means, a wheel supporting the carriers, arms pivotally mounted upon the wheel for movement into contact with the bent blanks prior to their passage through the interlocking means, and means for operating said arms and releasing them after the passage of the bent blanks through the interlocking means.

11. A machine for forming articles from blanks having ends adapted to be interlocked, comprising a magazine for the blanks, means for bending the blanks, means for interlocking the ends of the bent blanks and carriers adapted to withdraw the blanks from the magazine and carry them through the bending and interlockingmeans, said interlocking means embodying rollers of which one is.

grooved for the reception of the ends of the bent blanks.

12. A machine for forming and applying top and bottom starters to a comb honey section blank, comprising a support for the blank, means for supporting a substance from which the starters are cut, means for cutting the starters, a hot plate, and means for delivering the starters to said blank after passing certain of the edges of the starters over the hot plate.

13. A machine for forming and applying top and bottom starters to a comb honey section blank, comprising a support for the blank, means for supporting a flat substance from which the starters are to be out, means for cutting the starters, a hot plate, and means for delivering the starters to said blank after passing certain of the edges of'the starters over the hot plate, said last means comprising a shaft rotatably mounted, arms carried by the shaft, jaws pivoted tothe arms and cooperating therewith to grip the starters, means forholding the jaws open during a phase of the rotation of the arms, and means for closing the jaws to grip the starters and for holding the jaws closed until after the application of the starters to said blank.

14'. A machine for forming and applying top and bottom starters to a comb honey section blank, comprising a support for the blank, means for supporting fiat substances for top and bottom starters, means for severing portions of said substances, means for feeding said substances to the severing means,

means for operating the severing means, and. 7

means for applying the severed portions of.

said substances to said blank, said severing and operatlng means embodying pivoted knives, p1voted levers engaged with the knives, and means for moving the levers in 16. A machine for forming and applying top and bottom starters to a comb honey section blank, comprising a support for the blank, means for forming the starters, and means for heating certain edges of the starters, and means for applyingthe starters to said blank with the heated edges thereof in contact with the blank, said last means embodying pivoted arms, jaws pivoted to the arms, means for opening and closing the jaws, and a hot plate.

1?. A machine for applying starters to comb honey section blanks, comprising a magazine for the blanks, means for withdrawing the blanks from the magazine one at a time, a heater, means for forming the starters, and means for presenting certain edges of the starters to the heater and thereafter applying the starters to the blanks with said edges thereof in contact with the blanks.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature. 

